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SEG Kreta
The SEG Kreta TV is a 42" (106 cm) LCD flat-panel TV from the German manufacturer SEG and has been available since fall 2007 for around 880 GBP.
Florian Friedrich, November 14, 2007
- The SEG has no problem delivering a bright and contrast-rich picture.
- 1080i signals are cleanly displayed via HDMI-making it good for HDTV satellite reception.
- The TV's nervous nature gives a slightly rough picture - we could definitely see some noise.
- More connections and a more comprehensive feature-set would really make something of the SEG.
- Just like in the movies? Unfortunately not; the SEG does not accept 24p format.
Take one step backwards, and everything becomes clearer. From a sensible viewing distance, you do not notice the slightly reduced sharpness or the high viewing-angle dependence of the SEG Kreta. At under 880 GBP, this LCD ticks all the boxes for big screen junkies.
SEG is one of the few manufacturers that does not use some cryptic naming system for their TVs; instead, they go for short, catchy names. The model we present here goes by the German name for the largest of the Greek islands.
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For a price of less than 880 GBP, you get a whole 42 inches of picture from SEG. Full HD resolution cannot be expected at this price, and the feature-set is also somewhat slim-line.
During Blu-ray playback, however, the picture quality is clearly visible. The matte-finish anthracite surface conveys an impression of quality, but this is spoilt a little by the sharp edges of the casing.
SEG is, again, one of the few manufacturers to offer a power on/off switch to completely cut-off the unit from the main power. The switch, however, is located on the rear of the unit, which is rather difficult to reach.
Operation
Here are some points of interest:
The TV's analog tuner is a little lethargic when it comes to changing channels; requiring almost 2 seconds, it is more like a snail than a bumble bee.
The useful picture-in-picture function supports analog inputs and can therefore, display pictures from the built-in TV tuner simultaneously with those of a satellite receiver or DVD player for example.
Since the Kreta does not have a VGA input for connecting to a PC, you can only do this with a HDMI-DVI adapter. If this HDMI input is already occupied, all you can do is switch the plugs over whenever you want to use the TV as a PC monitor. If you want to use several HDMI devices, an external HDMI hub will make your life a lot easier.
TV and DVD Picture Quality
In the "Cinema" picture mode, this 42 incher gives bright and striking TV pictures. The slightly bluish color temperature preset "Normal" gives better results than "Warm", which shows grayscales with a magenta color cast. In terms of color saturation, the green component is too strong and the red too weak, so skin tones look a bit synthetic and flat.
Also, some sharpness is missing, so fine details are suppressed and faces look too made-up. In the same way, dark areas of the picture are not sufficiently differentiated and dissolve somewhat into the black. All areas of a dark picture are therefore only visible when the brightness setting is turned up too high.
Both the Scart and YUV inputs give sufficient darkness, albeit with a relatively large overscan. It is therefore recommended you use the HDMI interface wherever possible. The SEG only accepts playback in 1080i format, but does display the material without line flicker and with little overscan.
HDTV Picture Quality
Playback of the beautifully mastered Blu-ray version of the Bond film "Casino Royale" is where the SEG Kreta gives its best results, with very little picture noise. Since this large flat-screen is not a full HD display, there is an unmistakable loss of detail when compared to units with the full HDTV resolution.
The HD-DVD "Apollo 13" makes the uneven backlighting very obvious; in black, outer-space scenes, bright patches in the corner of the picture catch your eye. The high viewing angle dependence of the LCD also becomes apparent here. Even small movements away from the perpendicular reduce the picture contrast excessively.
When settling down to a film in the evening, the lack of a control to adjust the backlighting can lead, for example, to stars twinkling against a gray - instead of black - background. During the day, on the other hand, this weakness is hardly noticeable. No judder-free 1080/24p (24 Hz frame rate) playback is possible of course, since the SEG Kreta only supports 1080i playback.
Sound Quality
The size of the unit should allow for a bit more oomph in terms of sound. While the bass is acceptable, it is not very strong, even if turned up in the equalizer. Overall, the sound impression is middle-heavy, which is perfect for speech reproduction, but does not thrill the listener during films or music. It is therefore useful that an analog stereo output has been provided for connecting to an AV receiver or amplifier.
Settings for the best home-theatre performance*
Picture Mode: Cinema
Contrast: 63
Brightness: 31
Sharpness: 10
Color: 50
Color Temperature: Normal
* applied to realistic playback from HD DVD/Blu-ray material through the HDMI interface in a darkened environment. Manufacturing and HDMI playback device deviations may necessitate slight adjustment.
Quick Points Summary
Big picture: The 42" screen diagonal and speakers below the screen give the SEG Kreta an imposing presence.
Meager connectivity: No VGA and no HDMI. PC signals in 720p or 1080i format suffer from overscan.
Easy to understand: Thanks to clear menus and legible button labeling, even beginners will find their bearings.